Government 'treats charity fundraising as third-class citizen'

Volunteering and social enterprise dominate the political agenda, says Joe Saxton, co-founder of nfpSynergy

The Government has treated fundraising as a "third-class citizen" in its allocation of funding, according to Joe Saxton, co-founder of sector consultancy nfpSynergy.

In a speech at a fundraising conference organised by Children's Hospices UK today, Saxton will tell delegates that volunteering and social enterprise "have been the teacher's pet of ministers' attention and investment" and more money should be spent on supporting fundraising.

He will say: "The current and any future government must make investment in fundraising and communications innovation a priority in a way that we haven't seen up until now.

"Investment now in innovation could repay itself many times over: it really is a case of investing to save."

The Government should encourage banks to raise money for charities by setting up planned giving schemes, according to Saxton.

An Office of the Third Sector spokesman said: "Government tax reliefs through Gift Aid and transitional relief have generated £947m in increased income to charities.

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